burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Looking for something that’s not bulky, accurate with quick acquisition/lock.
Preferences for clip on bass tuner
- Thread starter burntfrijoles
- Start date
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E5RSY
Doctor of Teleocity
I use one of the D'Addario clip-ons. Accurate, legible, and also tiny.
https://www.daddario.com/products/accessories/tuners/micro-headstock-tuner/
https://www.daddario.com/products/accessories/tuners/micro-headstock-tuner/
northernguitar
Poster Extraordinaire
I've tried most of the cheapies, and many have problems with the low E string on a bass. I bought my son a Snark for his bass and it's alright.
Asmith
Friend of Leo's
I tune to the 12th fret harmonic if my clip on is struggling
Polytune 3 mini. I suppose you could clip it on.
+1 on the d'addario micro
Call Me Al
Tele-Afflicted
Great results with the Fender. The snark only works on my guitars but not basses.
northernguitar
Poster Extraordinaire
Yeah, they aren't exactly the coolest looking thing on a stage.
Add me to the D'Addario Micro list. They "hide" on the back of your headstock, and react quickly and accurately. D'Addario now offers another version.....exactly same tuner, but it can screw onto your headstock using the screw securing a tuner. (no pun....a tuner you turn to adjust a string pitch) These are inexpensive, and have never failed me yet. (in several years of use)
BTW....I use one on my Hofner Club Bass, and it works great. But like @Asmith said, you can always use the twelfth fret harmonic if you have trouble.
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
Thanks guys. I’ll try the D’Addario.
omahaaudio
Poster Extraordinaire
I second this recommendation. Mine works just fine on a P-Bass.
Higher end Snark. I gave up all my clip ons and repurchased a Boss tuner.
WingedWords
Friend of Leo's
Someone on this forum suggested trying clip on tuners at different places on the headstock if they don't read well.
I use various Snarks and don't have any issues except sometimes using 12th fret harmonics if the reading is hesitant.
I use various Snarks and don't have any issues except sometimes using 12th fret harmonics if the reading is hesitant.
scooteraz
Friend of Leo's
TC Electronics PolyTune Clip is fast and accurate, doesn’t cost very much, works well with bass. Depending on mode it is either 0.5 cent or 0.02 cent accurate and tunes from under 30 HZ to over 4kHz.
The Peterson StroboClip HD is about as accurate a tuner as you can find, is fast and works well with bass (though I use mine with an acoustic that has the Buzz Feiten system, it has a special mode for that).
Neither is cheap, both in the $70-80 range. I have and use both, have yet to find a better tuners.
The TC Unitune Clip is about $20 and shares specs with the bigger brother, it just doesn’t have the “Polytune” feature. For the price difference, and the fact that I never use the Polytune feature on Bass, it is perfect. These are so good and cheap, that I usually get one for each guitar and jut throw it in the case so it is always there.
I have used the D’Addario NS Micro, but I had problems with it on a 5 string bass. Works great on my mandolin, however. It is accurate to 0.3 cent.
Most clip on tuners are accurate to 1 or 2 cents (plus or minus). Add in the “I’m in a hurry” factor and you probably double that. The upside to the more accurate tuners is that you are able to get really close. The down side is that when you fixate on the tuning, it can take a while.... Because I’m a geek, and my real life job has to do with instrumentation, I tend to obsess over tuners, and have tried just about every cheap brand out there for the clip ones. The TCs are the ones I keep (well I do have a couple of Petersons and the one D’Addario). The rest I give away to my band mates in my church band. It is nice to actually have everyone more or less in tune.
The Peterson StroboClip HD is about as accurate a tuner as you can find, is fast and works well with bass (though I use mine with an acoustic that has the Buzz Feiten system, it has a special mode for that).
Neither is cheap, both in the $70-80 range. I have and use both, have yet to find a better tuners.
The TC Unitune Clip is about $20 and shares specs with the bigger brother, it just doesn’t have the “Polytune” feature. For the price difference, and the fact that I never use the Polytune feature on Bass, it is perfect. These are so good and cheap, that I usually get one for each guitar and jut throw it in the case so it is always there.
I have used the D’Addario NS Micro, but I had problems with it on a 5 string bass. Works great on my mandolin, however. It is accurate to 0.3 cent.
Most clip on tuners are accurate to 1 or 2 cents (plus or minus). Add in the “I’m in a hurry” factor and you probably double that. The upside to the more accurate tuners is that you are able to get really close. The down side is that when you fixate on the tuning, it can take a while.... Because I’m a geek, and my real life job has to do with instrumentation, I tend to obsess over tuners, and have tried just about every cheap brand out there for the clip ones. The TCs are the ones I keep (well I do have a couple of Petersons and the one D’Addario). The rest I give away to my band mates in my church band. It is nice to actually have everyone more or less in tune.
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
I actually have two of them and they are quite good. I think they're still only available at Sweetwater. I just wanted to try something different. I have three guitars that I keep out all the time and one bass so I want a tuner for each one because I'm lazy.
scooteraz
Friend of Leo's
I actually have two of them and they are quite good. I think they're still only available at Sweetwater. I just wanted to try something different. I have three guitars that I keep out all the time and one bass so I want a tuner for each one because I'm lazy.
I do a bunch of business with Sweetwater, so that they are the only supplier has not been a problem (actually, I’ve never even looked elsewhere). It works better than quite a few on bass, so if it ain’t broke, why fix it? I’m a bit lazy as well.....
burntfrijoles
Doctor of Teleocity
I got a D’Addario Eclipse. It works great: big note, articulating display, quick capture.
I thought the micro’s display was too small for my vision.
I thought the micro’s display was too small for my vision.
